An EPROM (rarely EROM), or erasable programmable read-only memory, is a

type of memory chip that retains its data when its power supply is switched off.
Computer memory that can retrieve stored data after a power supply has been
turned off and back on is called non-volatile. It is an array of floating-gate
transistors individually programmed by an electronic device that supplies higher
voltages than those normally used in digital circuits. Once programmed, an EPROM
can be erased by exposing it to strong ultraviolet light source (such as from a
mercury-vapor light). EPROMs are easily recognizable by the transparent fused
quartz window in the top of the package, through which the silicon chip is visible,
and which permits exposure to ultraviolet light during erasing.

Application
For large volumes of parts (thousands of pieces or more), mask-programmed ROMs are the
lowest cost devices to produce. However, these require many weeks lead time to make, since the
artwork for an IC mask layer must be altered to store data on the ROMs. Initially, it was thought
that the EPROM would be too expensive for mass production use and that it would be confined
to development only. It was soon found that small-volume production was economical with
EPROM parts, particularly when the advantage of rapid upgrades of firmware was considered.
Some microcontrollers, from before the era of EEPROMs and flash memory, use an on-chip
EPROM to store their program. Such microcontrollers include some versions of the Intel 8048,
the Freescale 68HC11, and the "C" versions of the PIC microcontroller. Like EPROM chips,
such microcontrollers came in windowed (expensive) versions that were useful for debugging
and program development. The same chip came in (somewhat cheaper) opaque OTP packages
for production. Leaving the die of such a chip exposed to light can also change behavior in
unexpected ways when moving from a windowed part used for development to a non-windowed
part for production.

EEPROM (also written E2PROM and pronounced "e-e-prom", "double-e-prom" or "e-squaredprom") stands for electrically erasable programmable read-only memory and is a type of nonvolatile memory used in computers and other electronic devices to store relatively small amounts
of data but allowing individual bytes to be erased and reprogrammed.

EEPROMs are organized as arrays of floating-gate transistors. EEPROMs can be programmed

and erased in-circuit, by applying special programming signals. Originally, EEPROMs were
limited to single byte operations which made them slower, but modern EEPROMs allow multibyte page operations. It also has a limited life for erasing and reprogramming, now reaching a
million operations in modern EEPROMs. In an EEPROM that is frequently reprogrammed while
the computer is in use, the life of the EEPROM is an important design consideration.
Unlike most other kinds of non-volatile memory, an EEPROM typically allows bytes to be read,
erased, and re-written individually. EPROMs are erased by exposing a chip to ultra-violet light to
erase its entire contents. flash EPROMs are electrically erased and programmed but only as
groups of bytes, ranging from tens to tens of thousands of bytes for different devices.
Comparison with EPROM and EEPROM/flash

The difference between EPROM and EEPROM lies in the way that the memory programs and
erases. EEPROM can be programmed and erased electrically using field electron emission (more
commonly known in the industry as "FowlerNordheim tunneling").
EPROMs can't be erased electrically, and are programmed via hot carrier injection onto the
floating gate. Erase is via an ultraviolet light source, although in practice many EPROMs are
encapsulated in plastic that is opaque to UV light, making them "one-time programmable".

Definition - What does Cache Memory mean?

Cache memory is a small-sized type of volatile(liable to change) computer memory that provides
high-speed data access to a processor and stores frequently used computer programs,
applications and data. It stores and retains data only until a computer is powered up.
There may be many levels of cache memory like L1,L2 and L3,but commonly L1 and
L2 cache are used. They were built in to decrease the time taken to access data by
the processor. This time taken is called latency. The architecture they are built with
also differs considerably. For eg. the L1 cache is built using larger transistors and
wider metal tracks, trading off space and power for speed. The higher level caches
are more tightly packed and use smaller transistors.
If a request is made to the system,CPU has some set of instructions to execute
which is to be fetched from the RAM.Thus to cut down delay,the Cpu maintains a
cache with some data which it anticipates it will be needed.L1 cache is integrated
into the CPU and is also known as the 1 st level cache.The required instructions are
first searched in this cache,it is very small in comparision to other caches,thus
faster.

If the instructions are not found in l1 cache then it is searched for in the l2
cache,which has a slightly larger pool of data and is a bit slower than l1.With each
cache miss,the next cache is searched.Finally if it is not present in all caches ,then
the instructions is loaded from RAM